Rides and Roads

Like most successful endeavors in life, there need to some tried and true ingredients.  Adding cars or girls to almost anything is a recipe for success....We'll start with cars.

I love to drive.  I love the forest.  Naturally, I love driving through the forest, especially when the roads are as nice as they are in Angeles Crest.  The CA hwy 2, mainly, Angeles Crest Highway, Angeles Forest Road, and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon; are some of the best road to drive on, and they are also a hot spot for motorcycle enthusiasts.  

This is the section of road at the end of the Crest. 

The roads were made for drivin'   This the Mt. Wilson road, a nice and tight rally style road that begs you stick to the inside and makes you push the G forces. 

You can say we had a nice spirited drive.  Safety first, but no harm in having fun...the speed limit is 50mph which can be interesting at times.  

A quick shot from the main Angeles Crest Highway.  The road you see in the distance is Angeles Forest Highway, the road that connects to Palmdale,CA. 

Snow Time

One of the greatest things about Southern California, especially Los Angeles County, is that there is such a wide variety of climates to visit and all of them very close by.

Most of these pictures are from December of 2009 but a few much older.  It's amazing how while it could be 70 degrees (F) down in the city, no more than 30 minutes away there is fresh snow.

In August of 2009 there was a devastating and massive fire which was burning through La Canada, La Crescenta, and eventually reached Tujunga and Sunland.  Basically, it was out of control and spreading way beyond what anyone could have anticipated. 

The fires, later mixed with the rain and snow caused landslides that took out homes and peoples lives, and even today, many of the roads are closed and under construction to repair the damage.

January of 2005 had a lot of snow.  This wouldn't be the case every year.  And yes, this picture is at a spot called RED BOX at the base of Mount Wilson, about 30 minutes away from the main city.

December of 2009.  This is the barren landscape left after the August fires.  It's quite depressing to see this after months of not being able to travel these roads due to the fire, and after being use to such a rich lush forest.  Soon after this picture was taken, the roads were closed again due to bad mud slides and this main section of road, Angeles Crest Highway, is still closed today.

 A little higher up, signs of snow!

There was more snow that I expected, and its was fresh and soft; the perfect powder. 
Bear tracks?!

Having a little fun in the snow.

 And some pictures of the fires.  It was surreal seeing the flames from miles away at home.  It was like seeing a volcano in the distance or like being in hell.

Switzer Falls

So just a quick addition to my last post.  I want to introduce everyone to Switzer Falls.  You take the trail that starts at Switzer Picnic Area and you eventually reach this magnificent place.

And yes you can swim there too!

 If you have the chance, hike this trail and take a dip.

Switzer

Hey, so one of the first memorable trips up Angeles Crest was into a picnic area called Switzer.  There's a nice river there (stocked with fish  for fishing during winter), tables, a LONG hiking trail (you can bike it if you're crazy) and good times to be had.  So a large group of us decided to head up there for a little BBQ and just to hang out.  The following took place.


A little construction on the road meant we had to stop temporarily, a first for me, to be able to get out in the middle of the road.  It gave us time to stretch our legs, but also....

...for me to do a little rock climbing. =P

  
Some of the scenery there.

Completed the day with a little food and music.

Don't ask lol.  The sound system and car are long gone. :)

 
We had to get creative once we realized we had no spatula.  Mountain Dew burgers anyone?

A map including Switzer Picnic Area 

View Hiking reviews around Los Angeles in a larger map

The first post

Hello, so I've driving up Angeles Crest (ca hwy 2) since I first got my license at 16.  I'm now 24 (just turned it, yay!), so obviously I've had a long time to travel on the many roads up there.  I've seen the many changes that have happened up there, from newly paved roads, to the devastating fires.  I've camped, hiked and backpacked up in that forest.  I've drank her water and consequentially returned it back to her.  I've mostly had good times up there but a few scary times as well; so over time I will post more and more pictures, tell stories of what's happened in Angeles Crest and keep this updated with my recent trips up there.